End-gate



(No Model.)

H. W. MOORE.

END GATE.

No. 307,974. Patented Nov. 11, 1884.

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Nr rno TATES FFICE. 7

HOLLIS IV. MOORE, OF OLEAN, NEIV YORK.

EN D-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,974, dated November 11, 1884.

Application filed June 16, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern Be it known that I, HoLLIsW. Moons, of Olean, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in End-Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in endgates, the object of the same being to provide a latch for gates of this character by means of which the gate will be securely locked in its closed position. A further object is to provide means, in connection with the latch,whereby the sides of the wagon will be drawn toward each other and additionally braced when the latch is in its closed adj ustment. A further object is to provide a latch which will be simple in construction and durable and efficient in use; and with these ends in view my invention. consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of my device in its locked position. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the same; andFigs. 3 and 4 are detached views of the several parts.

A represents a wagon-body provided with the corner-upright cleat B, towhich is suitably secured, by means of the screws or bolts 0, the knee-brace D, the lower end of which is turned at right angles to the main portion and secured to the wagon-body. The knee-braces D are each enlarged at their upper ends, as at E, the said enlargements extending across their entire surface. Each enlarged portion is provided with an oblong slot, F, the upper portion of which is slightly narrower than the lower portion, thereby forming the shoulders G, the lower edges of which are beveled, as at H.

The endgate I is hinged to the rearof the wagon-body A in any preferred manner, and is provided with the bell-crank lever K,which is pivoted in such adjustment as to enable the locking end of the lever to engage with the slots F and H. The lever K is preferably formed as shown,with the handle L,of any suitablelength, and each side thereof being hollowed out or cut away, as shown at M, for the the slot, a washer or washers can be interposed between the gate and lever.

The levers K are provided at their outer ends with the lugs O, which project from the sides thereof in opposite directions, and are of such size that they will pass freely into the larger portion of the slot F, and when the locking end of the lever is forced into the narrow portion of the slot F the said lugs will engage the beveled ends H of the shoulders G, and, pressing against the same, will slide upwardly, thus drawing the sides of the body into an upright position, if from any cause they have become strained therefrom. The latch will remain in its locked position,owing to the weight of the handle, which is retained in a vertical position through the force of gravity.

WVhen it is desired to fasten the end-gate in locked adjustment, the same is closed, and the lever K is lowered until the handle L occupies a vertical position. lVhen this is done, the upper or locking ends of levers K will have entered and passed beyond the larger portion of slot F and lodged in the narrow portion of said slots, the lugs O of the lever engaging the beveled ends H of the shoulders G, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is evident that slight changes can be made in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts of my inventionas, for instance, instead of using a knee-brace, the same may be dispensed with and a bracket used instead, which may be secured to the upright post only. 7

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with brackets secured to opposite sides of a wagon-body, each bracket provided withaslotted face, of an end-gate, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the end-gate and provided with laterally-projecting lugs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with brackets secured to the opposite sides of a wagon-body, each bracketprovided with a slothaving a narrowed extension, the lower edges of the portions of the brackets forming the sides of the narrow portions of the slots being beveled, of bellcrank lever pivoted to the end-gate and adapted to engage the beveled surfaces of said brackets, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,with knee-brackets secured to opposite sides of the wagon-body and provided with a slot having a narrowed extension,the lower edges of the portion of the brackets forming the sides of the narrow portions of the slots being beveled, of an anglelever pivoted to the end-gate and provided with lugs on its locking end, which take under the beveled surfaces, and thereby lock the end-gate and draw up the side 'of the body simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with abracket secured to the inside corner of a wagon-body and provided with a vertical slot in its face, of a gravity-lever pivoted to the end-gate, the locking end of the said lever being bent or curved, substantially as set forth, for the purpose of carrying the end outward into position to engage the slot and lock the end-gate in closed adjustment, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOLLIS W. MOORE.

\Vitnesses:

I. O. WHITNEY, J. P. DEBRISSON. 

